What is Health Service Administration?

Health Service Administration sounds vague, but it is one of those discreet careers that are always in demand, with good salary prospects and offers a diverse career path.

In the private and public sectors of the United States, certain careers tend to stand out more than others for obvious reasons. Police officers, for example, are very visible in our communities and even stockbrokers have a bit of visibility because news broadcasts are constantly reporting activity on Wall Street.

There is an entire subset of careers that can be described as “flying under the radar,” meaning that they are not commonly discussed despite their attractive salaries and the opportunities they present to prospective students.

A bachelor’s degree in the career can prepare a student for a positions as a
• Dental Clinic Director/Supervisor/CEO
• Clinic or Hospital Director/Supervisor/CEO
• Nursing Home or Hospice Administrator
• Long-term or Rehab Facilities Administrator
• Social Worker
• Insurance/HMO Underwriter
• Insurance/HMO Analyst
• Legislative Lobbyist
• HMO specialist for Human Resource department in any business

The Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration is one of the most valuable and dynamic undergraduate programs offered by Florida National University, but many students are unfamiliar with what a healthcare administrator does and classes they would take for the degree. We will answer some of those questions below.

Health Services Administration, Then and Now

Consider this: hospitals have existed since civilizations first realized they needed a place for the sick to turn to. How were they managed? The first were by religious or military administrators, for example in ancient India, Ayurveda clinics were operated by members of the Hindu religious caste; in ancient Rome, hospitals that treated soldiers and gladiators were administered by legion officers. Civilian administration of hospitals started during the Islamic Golden Age in Iraq and Syria. By the time a hospital in North America was founded by the conquistador Hernán Cortés in Mexico, a long tradition of health services administration had been developed.

In essence, health services administration refers to the management and development of healthcare as well as its policies, products and solutions. To a certain extent, health services administrators work behind the scene to ensure that healthcare is practiced and delivered in an efficient and compliant manner.

Do Health Administrators Work With Patients?

Most health services administration professionals do not work on patients, like medics do; however, some work in counseling, management and research positions that will require them to talk with patients about their experiences with healthcare services received.

Health Services Administration Career and Salary Prospects

The healthcare industry will continue to grow exponentially due to population growth, aging and longer lifespans. In South Florida in particular, demand for healthcare administration professionals tends to be higher than other regions thanks to the large numbers of senior citizens who move here for the purpose of enjoying their golden years in a sunny place.

The duties and responsibilities that can be assumed by health services administration professionals range from business development to policy compliance and from management of resources to consulting.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that this career will grow by more than 10 percent between now and the year 2022, which means that it will expand faster than the average career.

The B.S. Degree in Health Services Administration

FNU offers two health administration services degrees; one is a Bachelor of Science program and the other is a Master’s degree. Both programs are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission. Both programs are fully available online for the convenience of students who are working adults or who prefer the flexibility of e-learning.

To ensure that students meet the competencies and challenges required of health services administration professionals these days, FNU offers a comprehensive curriculum.

Some of the classes required for the Health Administration Services B.S. FNU include:

Individuals who want job security and competitive salaries will find that health services administration will meet their expectations.

Special Attention to Veterans

Veterans who have served as medics in the Army or the Air Force often transition into health administration professionals because they want to explore opportunities beyond direct patient care, and the same goes for those who have served in the Hospital Corps of the Navy and the Coast Guard. To this effect, FNU is an institution approved for veterans training by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, thus you can put your G.I. Bill benefits to good use when you enroll.

Bahamas Recognizes FNU Degree in Health Service Administration

If you are a student from The Bahamas, or if you intend to relocate to the islands and look for a job there, your FNU degree will be fully recognized in accordance with the standards set forth by the National Accreditation and Equivalency Council.

Financial Aid for a Health Service Administration Degree

Many of our health services administration program receive financial aid obtained with coordination from our specialists, and you can also apply to receive one of our scholarships. International students are welcome at FNU; for more information, contact one of our admissions counselors.

What You Can Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Services Administration

One of the most appealing factors of a health administration degree is that it is a truly diverse field. Traditionally, this career is associated with hospital administrators, but with your FNU degree you have options outside of the clinical setting, as highlighted in the bullet list of positions above.

Insurance companies that offer medical plans are major employers of health services administration professionals; in fact, the entire healthcare industry is being guided by managed care policies that are handled and executed upon by administration professionals. Upon graduation, you may be able to find work in a public health office at the municipal, state or federal level, and you should keep in mind that you will not always work in a management position; many health administration professionals find work as specialists in medical research projects, pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms.

When you are ready to expand your career horizons and enjoy the highest salaries available in your chosen professional field, you can take advantage of the FNU Master in Health Services Administration degree program, which is also a fully online program.

Get in touch with one of our counselors today to learn more about our Bachelor of Science in Health Services Administration program.

You can also visit our campus facilities in Hialeah and southwest Miami. Aside from being a fully accredited college, FNU also has a thriving athletics program in case you are interested in a sports scholarship.

With FNU, you also have the flexibility of online education, and the health administration degree program is ideal in this regard; don’t wait too long to start forging your future, contact us today.

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